Hosking walking into another hunting expedition

By Pat McLeod

Fresh from a helicopter fishing tour off Darwin, Churchable trainer Jamie Hosking faces a tougher big game hunting expedition at The Q on Saturday night.

The young conditioner recently returned to his city of birth for a quick break. 

Earlier this year, he trekked the same path for a successful assault on the Darwin Cup with Jay Walking.

At that stage, the multiple Top End premiership-winner had genuine concerns around his homebred’s fondness for The Q.

But, times have changed.

On Saturday night, Jay Walking comes into the QGOLD Summer Chase Final over 550 metres with sensational form at The Q – five wins and two placings in his last seven starts there.

“Yep, initially I didn't think Jay Walking really liked racing at The Q,” Hosking explains.

“But, at the moment, he thinks it's alright.

“I'm not sure what the reason for the change is, but I think it has more to do with him turning into a better race dog, who can now handle the tough competition early in the race.

“I think he has grown in confidence now that he knows that he doesn't have to get out and be on the bunny to win.

“He has more race sense early. He is still far from perfect, but he knows now that he has got an engine.”

Hosking has Jay Walking (box five) and Red Hot Penny (box four) engaged in two of eight QGOLD Finals on the Q1 Lakeside track on Saturday night, which signals the start of the Queensland Golden Greys Summer Racing Carnival.

Youngster Red Hot Penny will contest the QGOLD Emerging Sprinters Final.

Hosking also has first reserve Non Stop Tommy waiting for an opportunity in the QGOLD Bolt Final. 

Both Jay Walking and Red Hot Penny are out of separate Micks Recall litters.

To date, Micks Recall is Hosking’s most successful track story.

She raced 55 times for 18 wins, 20 placings and a prizemoney tally of $141,725.

Micks Recall started her career over 288 metres at Ipswich and finished as an accomplished Group-class stayer.

Hosking believes both his hopes on Saturday night are likely to follow in their mother’s footsteps.

“Jay Walking just keeps developing every week,” he said.

“When he started racing over the 520 metres at Albion, he wasn't particularly strong home but was very good down the back. At the time I thought he could probably win a couple of races.

“But, he has continued to develop and is probably turning more into his mother as far as the distance he races goes. He is just developing into whatever he will end up as, but at the moment he has found a little sweet spot.

“I would say I will head further in distance rather than going back in distance with him. It’s just great that I have two good race dogs out of Micks Recalls and great that we are getting a second career out of her.

“You are never guaranteed anything when you breed, no matter how good the mother is, but it looks like she's putting some really handy greyhounds on the track.

“That is probably the biggest thing that I look at. The line that we now have we can produce some of our own city winners.”

Hosking says he kept a constant look out for crocodiles while fishing in the Top End but admits he doesn’t have to look far to see the dangers lurking on Saturday night.

“Jay Walking is in a nice tough field,” he said.

“You're not going to pick up the $25,000 (to-the-winner) easily.

“Validate (who sliced the 550 metre track record down to 30.18 seconds in his heat win) is the obvious danger.

“He has three to four tenths on me off last week’s run. That dog will probably need a lot of bad luck (not to win), but this is a dog race and you never know.

“All of the runners are a chance. Although it is a 550 metre race, it would be great if my bloke was able to pop his head out early in front.

“It is definitely good to have dogs in the carnival races. If you get them into the feature races, anything can happen. And, the money is fantastic.”